USAF's Streak Eagle, going back half a century in time
On 16 January 1975, under very cold circumstances, ideal for atmospheric flight conditions, a highly modified McDonnell Douglas F-15A Streak Eagle, with tail number 20119 (72-0119), took off from North Dakota's Grand Forks Airport with one achievement in mind: to break vertical time-to-climb records.
As the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat was introduced in large numbers during the Cold War-period at the beginning of the seventies, the USAF had to find a way to show off its technological superiority and air dominance to the world. Stripped of fifty pounds of paint, the bare metal Streak Eagle was powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100 engines, producing more thrust than the aircraft’s basic weight.
After removing all weaponry, non-critical systems and the tailhook, Project Streak Eagle crews revised the oxygen system, added support equipment for the full pressure suit worn by the pilots and fabricated an explosive bolt attached to a steel cable. This innovative strap system held the aircraft down to Grand Forks's runway until full afterburner before releasing. This resulted in launching the F-15 into rotation speed within three seconds. During the two-week series of climbs at the beginning of 1975, the Streak Eagle broke eight world records.
Finally, on 1 February 1975, the F-15 reached an altitude of 30,000 metres (close to 99,000 feet) within three minutes and 45 seconds, proving global air dominance. The Project Streak Eagle wasn’t just about technological pride and USAF's recruitment, though. While the Cold War was going on, it was a psychological tool within the US strategy way of integrated deterrence.
72-0119 is an early preproduction aircraft and differences in internal structure and systems made it too costly to return to operational service. Multiple early production Eagles from the 72-011* range have found their way to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Nowadays, the Streak Eagle can be found in the Research and Development hall with the USAF museum near Dayton (OH).
Credit photo and information: USAF Museum and Scramble Database